Chair - Essex Gardens Trust

We are looking for an enthusiastic, open-minded and forward thinking individual to join our small and enthusiastic team of volunteers; and who will share our love of, and desire to, protect the special and historic gardens and landscapes of Essex.

Who we are

Essex Gardens Trust was set up in 1996 with the aim of protecting the special and historic gardens and landscapes in our county. We do this through: i) research, ii) conservation and iii) education.

Our research team has recently completed a funded project to identify and record historic gardens and landscapes in the City of Southend. The results of this research has been given to both the County planning authority and the Essex Records Office where it will join our existing inventories.

The role

As Chair of Essex Gardens Trust you will be responsible through and with the Management Committee for:

• Providing overall leadership and oversight to EGT
• The overall health of EGT and its ability to continue to deliver the objectives for which it was founded;
• Chairing meetings of the Management Committee, ensuring that they are run efficiently and that decisions made are in accordance with good governance and are clearly recorded;
• Understanding the role and activities of each of the Trust’s core functions and, with this knowledge, being open to new opportunities for EGT to develop and extend its influence and activities;
• Being an ambassador for the Trust;
• Maintaining and developing external contacts and relationships with organisations such as, but not exclusively, The Gardens Trust, Essex Records Office, ARU Writtle and other County Gardens’ Trusts;
• Maintaining contacts with and attend relevant meetings of the movement’s national body, The Gardens Trust, and other external bodies.

You should have at least three years’ experience of the charity sector as a trustee or senior employee and be able to demonstrate a keen interest in gardens and landscapes; plus…

• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgement and integrity
• An ability to think creatively
• The ability to lead and work effectively as a member of a team and with volunteers in a range of capacities
• The ability to research and ask probing questions.

Knowledge of landscape design and garden history is not necessary, but it would be helpful if you have an appreciation of their application.

The Management Committee meets six times a year for about two hours, either by Zoom or at ARU Writtle. There is usually an annual meeting of County Chairs organised by The Garden Trust. Including these meetings, your time commitment would be on average eight to ten hours per month.